Governor Phil Scott waited until after 6 p.m. on Oct. 7 to officially announce action on a range of bills, including the Legislature’s bill to create a regulated cannabis market in Vermont, which will be allowed to go into law without his signature. The new law establishes a Cannabis Control Board that will be responsible…

The ruffed grouse is an iconic game bird of Vermont that is widely recognized and enjoyed by hunters and non-hunters alike, but wildlife biologists are concerned that grouse populations across the Northeast have declined over the past 30 years. This trend has prompted ruffed grouse research on potential causes, including emerging disease threats and habitat…

Food distribution sites break attendance records statewide, Farmers to Families likely to end after October After a summer of record-breaking food distribution by the Vermont Foodbank, many people throughout the state are facing hunger this winter — intensified by the coronavirus pandemic. While the USDA’s Farmers to Families Food Box program has helped to supplement…

U.S. Secretary of Transportation Elaine L. Chao announced on Sept. 30 that the federal government will provide $574 million in emergency relief (ER) funds to help 39 states and Puerto Rico make repairs to roads and bridges damaged by storms, floods, and other unexpected events. “This $574 million in federal funding will help states repair…

Vermonters may claim a property tax credit or receive a renter rebate to help offset the cost of housing, but those claims must be filed by Oct. 15. The Vermont property tax credit and renter rebate programs help make housing more affordable for thousands of Vermonters, and the Department of Taxes has seen a marked…

Signs executive order to manage recreational trails Governor Phil Scott vetoed H.926, an act relating to changes to Act 250, and signed executive order to provide regulatory certainty for recreation trails on Monday, Oct. 5. In his veto letter to the Legislature, Governor Scott noted that at the start of the legislative session, there was broad support for…

The Vermont School Boards Association (VSBA) has arranged for delivery of nearly 40,000 face masks to Vermont schools during the first weeks of classes. “As a member of the National School Boards Association (NSBA), we were able to offer free face masks to our members through the Masks for Kids Program,” explained VSBA Executive Director…

By Julia Purdy As of Oct. 2, Census workers received a notification that the Census data collection will continue through October as originally planned. Numerous lawsuits had been filed against Steven Dillingham, the Trump-appointed director of the U.S. Census Bureau, and the Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross, its parent agency, when the original Oct. 30…

Vermont’s early voting period is underway Secretary of State Jim Condos distilled his election guidance to three words Monday, Sept. 21. “Seal, sign, and send!” he said in a statement announcing the start of the early voting period for the Nov. 3 election. By Wednesday, Oct. 7, all Vermonters should have received a ballot. If…

 Lt. governor race is a toss-up, fewer than 50% of Vermonters eager to take a Covid-19 vaccine Republican Gov. Phil Scott is coasting to reelection and has become more popular than the three Democrats who serve in Vermont’s Congressional delegation, according to a new poll from VPR and Vermont PBS released today. Meanwhile, six weeks…

Governor Phil Scott announced that Vermont has received $3.8 million in federal funding for suicide prevention. The five-year grant from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) will support the implementation and evaluation of the state’s comprehensive public health approach to suicide prevention in Vermont. The announcement coincided with the Sept. 10 observance of World Suicide…

Commission to maintain local renewable choices, net metering, but thousands of Vermont jobs threatened While Governor Phil Scott’s administration has been hesitant on renewable energy progress, 791 Vermonters filed comments with the Public Utility Commission (PUC) on net metering, according to a news release by Renewable Energy Vermont, Sept. 23. Net metering is the state’s…

By Rep. Jim Harrison The 2020 legislative session came to a close on Friday evening, Sept. 25. It was a session like no other, with issues like emergency Covid related measures and funding, online meetings via Zoom since March and a two month break in the summer thrown in to get a better handle on…

Vermont is currently experiencing abnormally dry and moderate drought conditions, and the Department of Forests, Parks, and Recreation is reminding the public to exercise caution and follow all state laws and local ordinances with open burning. Open burning currently requires a permit from your town forest fire warden, and Vermonters should always check with their town forest…

Vermont PBS and Vermont Public Radio have announced the 2020 VPR–Vermont PBS Debates, a series of pre-recorded debates among candidates for Governor, Lieutenant Governor and U.S. House of Representatives. The debates will be moderated by Bob Kinzel and Jane Lindholm during VPR’s program Vermont Edition and broadcast by Vermont PBS. The debates will take place…